5 T20 legends who will be missed at the 2016 World T20

The 2016 World T20 is just around the corner and with no clear runaway favourites apart from the hosts, India, it is set to be another exciting edition with some of the nest players in the world.Also read: ICC T20 World Cup 2016 ScheduleThe World T20 in India will undoubtedly see some brilliant matches but will also be without some of the best players in the format. While some haven’t been picked because of their previous with the board, some have retired from the game and thus will play no part.Whatever be the reason, the World T20 will be poorer without the presence of certain players. Here are five T20 legends who will be missed at the 2016 World T20:

#1 Brendon McCullum

New Zealand will miss the positive mentality McCullum brings with his captaincy

The news that Brendon McCullum was going to retire came as a shock to many but what shocked everyone more was that he decided not to put his name up for selection for the World T20 in India, a place where he has thrived, courtesy of the IPL.

I suppose we must respect every player for the decision that they take and as the leading run-scorer in T20Is, the player with the most centuries, fifties, fours and sixes, McCullum deserved more than most to call time on his own accord.

His loss will be a huge loss to the Black Caps, who, with him in the side, would have certainly been one of the dark horses for the tournament especially given the form of Martin Guptill, New Zealand’s other opener.

As things stand, the Kiwis will come to India on the back of a Test series loss to India and without arguably the most destructive opener in the world. And that is why New Zealand will miss McCullum. Not just for his runs but for the start he gives the side and also the positive mentality he brings with his captaincy.

Hopefully, his successor can take over from where Baz left off. One thing is for sure, his job would certainly have been a whole lot easier had McCullum for one final tournament.

#2 Kevin Pietersen

KP’s record in the shortest format is nothing short of phenomenal

When it comes to T20Is, Kevin Pietersen’s record is only better by Virat Kohli, in terms of sheer numbers. Not only incredibly consistent but also highly explosive and capable of tearing apart any bowling attack on his day.

While it is true that KP hasn’t played for England in any format for a while now, his current record in the shortest format is nothing short of phenomenal. He had an incredible Ram Slam T20 Challenge and they took his form to the Big Bash League where he helped Melbourne Stars overcome their semi-final hoodoo and take them to their first final of the tournament.

Yet, despite all of that and his incredible numbers, the 2010 World T20 winner has once again been overlooked by the English selectors. While his omission isn’t surprising as it is in line what has happened so far, but it is one that might come back to bite them given his experience in Indian conditions and the England squad’s general lack of exposure outside home conditions.

#3 Mike Hussey

Hussey enjoyed a very successful T20 career for Australia

Australia might have a plethora of opening options at the moment, but no one apart from Shane Watson has a lot of experience playing in Indian conditions and even Watson isn’t guaranteed of a slot in the playing XI. Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch are their current first-choice opening pair but ask most Australians and they would swap them in a heartbeat for Mike Hussey.

A classical player who many predicted would fail to set the T20 format on fire, Hussey went on to enjoy a very successful T20 career, that saw him plenty of trophies with the Chennai Super Kings. Typically consistent and capable of taking off when the time is right, Mr. Cricket is in many ways the perfect opener.

Whether the game is being played on turning tracks or green seamers, Hussey has the technique to not only survive but also thrive. Not many modern T20 batsman can claim to have that in their repertoire and that is why he will be missed.

Australia will, however, be glad that they can call on his experience as he has been roped in as a mentor for the side.

#4 Virender Sehwag

Sehwag would have been the perfect foil for Rohit this year

In Rohit Sharma, India have probably the best limited-overs opener over the last 18 months and in Virat Kohli, they have the world’s best No.3, irrespective of the format, who has had a brilliant start to the calendar year.

But India’s problem is the player in between, Shikhar Dhawan, who has shown a tendency to only fire when his spot in the side is in danger. Given the paucity of T20 openers, unfortunately, it is not in too much threat. All of that would have changed had Virender Sehwag, one of India’s finest openers across all formats, not announced his retirement last year.

Capable of hitting the ball long and fast, Sehwag would have been the perfect foil for Rohit, who at times, has the tendency to start slow before providing the final flourish. Unfortunately, Sehwag, who was last seen setting the Masters Champions League on fire, is unavailable for selection, owing to his retirement, which is a huge shame indeed as we all know what happened the last time he opened in India in an ICC tournament in 2011.

#5 Kumar Sangakkara

Sri Lanka will certainly miss Sangakkara at the top of the order

The way in which Kumar Sangakkara was seen belting the bowlers in the Natwest T20 Blast for Surrey and more recently in the Masters Champions League for the Gemini Arabians made one wonder whether he did the right decision in calling time from all forms of cricket for Sri Lanka.

For starters, the Lankans would certainly welcome his return to the side with both hands as they are currently struggling to find consistently at the top of the order. With a misfiring Tillakaratne Dilshan and a floating Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka certainly have no stability or consistency in their batting, which cost them dear as they were knocked out at the group stage of the Asia Cup.

Sangakkara might not have been a T20 legend in the same way as perhaps Chris Gayle, but he was still an integral part of every side he played for. Not only did he provide consistency at No.3 but he also had the god-given gift of picking the gaps at the right time to release the pressure.

The 2016 World T20 will certainly be poorer without his presence and Sri Lanka more than most will feel that.